dervis

What the hell is 'poncy' agriculture when it's at home? If it wasn't for marketing you wouldn't be posting on this site.

Double post.

Ok, I can close my mouth now. Astonishing. I think I'm extra gobsmacked by some of the prices originally paid. A two bed flat in LEEDS, for God's sake, for £200k plus?? just because it's next to a bit of water?? WHAT THE HELL WERE THEY THINKING!! You can get a whole house in parts of LONDON for that!! thanks, that's really made my evening.

This is fascinating. I know Birmingham well. My old dad lives in the centre (got a lovely two bed flat from the housing association) and I have a few cousins who are owner occupiers. I'm intrigued by the prices that people could purchase for in 2011. Do the enhanced sold prices have anything to do with HS2?

And circumstances, too. You yourself have pointed out the benefits of being at less risk of having a landlord pull the rug from under you, as it were. You've been really lucky. In it for a quick buck landlords have caused serious problems. In the area of London that I live in, homes are traded like something on a monopoly board. One bed flats go for upwards of £900 a month. Renting is going to be a fact of life for people from now on. It shouldn't be a matter of luck to find a good landlord and a bit of stability.

Happens to be a fact of life for some. I'd glad renting has worked out so well for you.

There are some people on here who wouldn't recognise basic good manners if it ran them over in a car. Might be something to do with the anonymity. Anyway stuff 'em and don't be intimidated by them. As one of my kids like to say 'they've got issues'. What makes HPC so interesting is the range and perspectives of opinions on offer so don't be afraid to give yours. There are some fantastic posters and I've learned loads.

I'll pick up your toys...

I know a couple living in a one bedroom ex council on an estate in Battersea. And there is no room at all to swing a cat. They are paying £1, 100 a month for the privilege. Madness, sheer bloody madness.

Good for you. I've had two friends given notice by landlords who've decided to cash in on their winnings/losings, creating havoc with schooling and life in general. Best of luck with your life and the kiddies when they come.

The computer systems in job centres are risible. They can only be the product of a badly written contract that the taxpayer is locked in for too many years. Searching for a job is diabolical. How anyone finds anything through the job centre is beyond me. Doubt there'll be improvements. They'll just go for cheap and nasty again.

You'll be nearing or in your fifties, not a great time of life to be out of work in this country. Good luck and fingers crossed.

Amen to that. Couldn't believe my ears when I heard him say 'can't afford a house? tough. Then live at home'. From a man who got where he is in life on his connections. He wouldn't know hard work if it ran over him. My working class parents bought their first house in their twenties. The only people who will ever be able to do that again in London are the very wealthy, or come from wealthy families. And that's all the fault of successive, greedy and stupid governments.

I've lived in London all my life, including a stint in central London. The only people who think there is any advantage to living in central London are rich foreigners, European and non European. London is a fantastic place, but its crowded and busy, and it would be hell not to get away from its centre. I know some people who wouldn't live anywhere else, and only consider central London as 'London'. An Italian friend recently spent nearly a million buying a two bed flat, and trust me, doesn't matter how much money I have, it wouldn't occur to me to buy something similar just to be able to say I live 'centrally'. You can keep central London, I'll take the bus in!

I was personally struck by the impecccable lineage line when I read the story this morning. As if these people are somehow more worthy of life than the rest of us. Seemed a very strange thing to hear in the 21st century. Lauding people who were given positions and priviledge for fighting on the right side centuries ago, or bunging the King a lot of dosh, or being rewarded for some other favour. Really weird.

About ten years ago they built three homes over the road from me. I had a nosey around when they were finished, and they felt really...boxy. Something else was troubling me and it was only after I left that I realised. No storage space. It's funny, my dad moved into a new build housing association flat in Birmingham about five years ago. Built surprisingly well with loads of storage space for ironing board, vacuum cleaner and other bits and bobs. So its not as if they HAVE to build so poorly.

Corrected for you. I worked across the road from the post office for nearly five years. This is prime real estate and will do nothing for ordinary people in the way of housing.

Stories like this are increasingly common. What is strange to me is that you don't hear the Government, or even councils, saying much about them. Councils are more likely to get aerated about the size of your kitchen extension, whilst the Government thinks House of Lords reform is far more interesting. All very strange.

Thanks for asking. I do indeed, as I've probably mentioned previously. Forgive me for being obtuse, but what's your point??

When I was 18 I just assumed that a job was for life, although that's not how it turned out. Had a chat with my 18 year old niece a couple of days ago and she described to me multiple careers. I have no intention of ending my working days working for someone else. A friend of mine was telling me how much work he had to do at the weekend for his employers. I'd rather invest that time in taking responsibility for my own destiny, rather than having it in the hands of a business that can downsize tomorrow. Its not for everyone so I'm certainly not going to mock public sector workers looking for security.

Great story and I couldn't agree more. God's sake, how did we get so precious about 13 year olds working? it's not as if they are being stuffed up chimneys and I'm sure that lots of them would love the opportunity to. I got my first job at 14 and felt like the great I am because I had a little cash. It was only a saturday job but it gave me a real appreciation of my parents having to provide for me. Sadly the jobs are not there for them anyway, but it would keep a lot of them out of mischief.

Guide price £145k, my ****! My brother lives on this road. It's right next to St Georges hospital which is now considered prime real estate in rental terms. Used to be one of the cheapest places for starter homes due to small sizes, especially the ones leading off Pevensey Road which are approximately cat swinging size. Three bed freehold opposite my brother in dump condition went for circa £289k about a month ago. I think Mrs Bear knows this area well.

Yep, lent a friend a much smaller sum and have dropped various hints about it, none of which he appears to be taking seriously. I told him at the time I hated lending out money because it always causes problems but he was adamant I'd be paid back. Now he appears to be taking it as a bit of a joke. Lesson truly learned this time.

I do remember the early 90s, and this is nothing like it.

You're not from around here, are you? Doccyboy, London is not Dublin or Belfast. It really really isn't. Dublin and Belfast went mad and regained their sanity. I'm afraid that's just not going to happen as long as London property is considered a safe haven for the world. I think I mentioned on this forum hearing a radio interview where a seriously rich businesswoman from Qatar talked about 'buying' London and again I heard a commentator talking about how a high percentage of sales in London were to overseas buyers. God, I wish it was a bubble but I can't see how it would burst. One thing made me laugh, though. House over the road from me in London was nabbed for £350k, on the market three weeks, five bed. Owner had wanted to get shot of it having previously put it on asking £499 a couple of years ago. Lives up North. He probably could have got £400k for it this time around